Warning! If you have not watched ‘Downton Abbey’s’ season 3 opener, this post contains spoilers. If you have seen all of season 3, which finished airing in November in the United Kingdom, be kind to those of us who haven’t: If commenting here, do not reveal plot lines beyond those broadcast Sunday night.

“Downton Abbey” closed season 2 with the strikingly romantic scene of once star-crossed lovers Matthew and Mary sealing their engagement with a kiss as snow flurries swirled around them.

Season 3 appears ripe for even more romance, beginning as it does with Lady Mary, Matthew and the family rehearsing for that wedding and rounding out the two-hour opener with another tender engagement scene.

While the intrigue and personalities upstairs are as biting and sexy as ever, the servants’ storylines seem to have lost a bit of their fire – so far. (The New York Times' Allesandra Stanley says: “Downton Abbey” is a fantasy that gets sillier in prolongation." Do you agree?)

Here’s who-did-what-to-whom recap of the two-episode opener that aired Sunday, Jan. 6, on WYES. Share your favorite moments, characters and one-liners here after each Sunday night broadcast. Follow me on Twitter @AnnMaloneyTp each Sunday night that the show airs.

The first hour

Just about every character’s life is touched upon as “Downton Abbey” returns with its tale of the elegantly dressed, tradition-bound Crawleys as they struggle to find their place in rapidly change, post-World-War-I England.

Upstairs at Downton Abbey

We rejoin the family in spring 1920. Sybil and her chauffeur-turned-journalist husband Tom Branson are unable to afford to come to the rapidly approaching wedding of Mary and Matthew. Lord Grantham refuses to send money. Mrs. Crawley and the dowager agree that Sybil should be there.

The big news this season, however, is that even though Mary and Matthew will marry, keeping Downtown Abbey in the family, all is not well. Lord Grantham has blown the “lion’s share” of his wife Cora’s fortune on a bad investment, which means the estate he married her to secure now will likely have to be sold off.

Most understanding wife in television history: In tears, Lord Grantham tells Cora the bad news and she responds: “How terrible for you.” He replies: “It’s not so good for you.” And she returns: “Don’t worry about me. I’m an American. Have gun will travel.” (Is she the greatest or what?)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/6811616/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Love is always in the air at &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#8216;Downton Abbey,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#8217; but which couple&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#8217;s love seems the most enduring?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Least understanding wife: In other money news, Matthew learns that the father of his now-deceased fiancé, Lavinia, who also now has died, named him as a possible heir to his huge fortune. Matthew says he cannot accept it because he betrayed Lavinia before she died by kissing Mary. When Lord Grantham tells Mary about the family’s dire financial situation, she tells Matthew, if the money comes his way, he must accept it to save the estate. He refuses. She storms off in tears on the night before the wedding.

Most desperate Crawley: Edith steps up her campaign to win the heart of wounded, middle-aged and exceedingly humble Sir Anthony Strallen, hopping in his carriage, dropping by his house, inviting him to dinner. He’s clearly charmed. (Is she truly smitten or afraid of being an old maid?)

Most uptight dinner guest: Branson and the now pregnant Sybil do come for the wedding. (It's a delight to learn who paid their way.) At their first meal, Branson refuses to “dress” for dinner and is outspoken in his passion for Ireland’s sovereignty. He is only slightly more welcome when he goes downstairs to say hello to his former colleagues. Sybil, clearly adores him, but wishes he’d make more of an effort. He tells her not to disappoint him by asking him to go against his principles. (It’s the in-laws, bud. Cut her some slack.)

Sweetest bromance: Branson and Matthew bond over being relative outsiders at Downton Abbey.

Best line from the sharp-tongued dowager:

Violet: “I’m so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I’m with her, I’m reminded of the virtues of the English.”

Biggest rat: Old family friends are invited to dinner, including Larry Gray, the son of Mary’s godfather, who had a crush on Sybil when they were younger. Before dinner, he is rude to Branson. Strallen notices Larry doing something odd just before they are seated, saying “What the devil?” During the meal, Branson is even more outspoken than usual, getting belligerent and appearing to be drunk. Strallen interrupts, accusing Larry of spiking Branson’s drink earlier. Larry admits it, saying he was playing a joke on the “grubby little chauffeur chap.” Everyone is outraged.

Best knight-in-shining armor moment: Sybil begins helping the inebriated Branson to bed and Matthew, whose best man had fallen ill, asks Branson to stand up with him at the wedding. His mom says “Bravo” and his fiance and sister-in-law beam.

Best granny match-up ever: Cora’s mother, Martha, played by the well-cast, glorious Shirley MacLaine, arrives and immediately makes it clear that the American way is the better way. She is the perfect foil to equally well-cast and glorious Maggie Smith’s dowager, Violet. The one-liners fly. (MacLaine told The New York Times that before she was cast: "I didn’t know “Downton Abbey. I learned about it at my hairdresser.")

Best save by a servant and former servant: As Anna counsels stubborn Mary to hold onto Matthew because he is a good man and they “don’t come by every 10 minutes like buses,” Branson visits proud Matthew and tells him he will never be happy with any other woman as long as Mary “walks the earth.”

Most romantic moment: Matthew goes back to the house and persuades Mary, through a partially open bedroom door – so that he does not see the bride before the wedding -- to kiss and make up. She consents, but insists he not risk bad luck by laying eyes on her. With his eyes closed, Matthew gingerly moves around the door and gives her a chaste kiss. She sneaks a peak at him through fluttering eyelids. Sigh. (I'm not the only one. Twittersphere was filled with swooning Tweets. And, Rolling Stone's Sean T. Collins said that single kiss explains the shows appeal.)

Proudest papas: Carson and Lord Grantham stand at the foot of the staircase as Mary glides down in her wedding dress. “Will I do,” she asks Carson. Tough to tell who is prouder of our little schemer.

What are the servants up to?

When Carson talks of needing another footman and O’Brien suggests her nephew, Alfred Nugent. Carson objects, but O’Brien appeals to Cora and Alfred is hired.

Thomas continues his campaign against convicted and jailed Bates, saying Anna should not have received Bates’ property because he was convicted. Carson sets him straight.

Daisy goes on strike (egged on by Thomas, of course) because even though she’s received a raise and new title, no new kitchen maid has been hired to take over her old duties. Mrs. Patmore kills her with kindness and they make up.

Meanwhile, Anna is trying to find proof that Bates’ first wife Vera committed suicide, so that she can free her husband from jail. In jail, Bates gets a creepy new cellmate and Anna tells him: “Never make an enemy by accident.”

The second hour

Mary and Matthew arrive in a fancy English sports car to find little has been resolved during their month-long honeymoon in the South of France.

Upstairs at Downton Abbey

Most awkward father-in-law / son-in-law chat: Matthew tells Lord Grantham that he knows about the financial situation, but explains why he cannot use the money from Lavinia’s father to save Downton Abbey.

Most resourceful wife: Mary, realizing that Matthew, who it turns out will definitely inherit the money, will not use it to save Downton Abbey, begins plotting with her English granny, Violet, to get her American granny, Martha, to pony up the cash. After all, Mary argues, when she dies, the American relatives -- her mother, Cora, and her uncle, Harold -- will get the money anyway. Cora admonishes Mary about going after more money from her grandmother, but Mary is adamant.

Most sanctimonious do-gooder: Mrs. Crawley gets involved in a charity to help wayward women get back on the honorable track. Later, Ethel, the housemaid who got pregnant and refused to give up her son to his paternal grandparents in season 2, comes to the women’s shelter to ask Mrs. Crawley something, but changes her mind and runs away.

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First American victory: Lord Grantham tells Lord Strallen to stop encouraging Edith’s affections. Strallen send Edith a letter. She is heartbroken and appeals to Martha. They both persuade Lord Grantham to change his mind and invite Strallen back to the abbey, with Martha telling him that Strallen has money, title and an estate: “Everything that matters to you.”

Greatest American victory: Mary and Violet plan a traditional, grand dinner for the local gentry at Downton Abbey to show Martha the estate’s essential role in the community, but when the oven breaks, Martha ends up turning the evening into an indoor picnic. The guests are delighted. Carson is appalled: “If you ask me, we are staring at the chaos of Gomorrah.”

Biggest English victory: After Edith admonishes Strallen to stop talking about his war injury and age, he asks Edith to marry him. She accepts. “You have given me back my life,” he says, to which she replies: “That’s more like it.”

Least surprising plot development: Violet and Mary finally tell Martha the truth about their financial straits. She refuses to give them any money, saying it is not available anyway because her late husband’s financial planning makes it inaccessible. Martha then tells Lord Grantham that she cannot help the family.

What are the servant’s up to?

O’Brien and Thomas turn their conniving on each other and it provides the best moments.

Thomas sabotages Alfred’s attempt to learn the ropes as a valet for Matthew, by giving him a tip that ends up burning a hole in Matthew’s tailcoat. And, Thomas tells Lord Grantham that they should bring Mr. Molesley back to be Matthew’s valet because Alfred isn’t ready.

O’Brien gets Thomas back by swiping Lord Grantham’s shirts so that he must attend dinner in -- gasp – black tie rather than white tie.

Martha’s American maid has a thing for Alfred, snatching kisses and telling him where O’Brien stashed Lord Grantham’s shirts, so he can put them back and infuriate Thomas even more.

Mrs. Hughes finds a lump on her breast and she and Mrs. Patmore go to the doctor for a biopsy, but must wait now for the results. Mrs. Hughes keeps it quiet.

Anna tells Bates that she plans to visit a friend of Vera’s to ask her about Vera’s state of mind before her death. Later, Bates gets into a fight with his new cellmate, who tells him, “I forgot I was sharing a cell with a murderer.” Bates replies: “Don’t forget it again.” (Macho posturing or confession!? Finally, a little life is breathed into this once gripping story line.)

Carson, who has been sniping at the ailing Mrs. Hughes, apologizes and tells her that the indoor-picnic dinner went quite well. Mrs. Hughes refuses to reveal her illness to him or anyone else. And she notes to Mrs. Patmore, at the close of episode: "One day I will die and so will he and you and every one of us under this roof."

A line that puts all of the aforementioned pettiness and intrigue into sharp perspective.

***

This double-feature opener didn’t disappoint. And, next week’s episodes look promising as well. We have Edith and Strallen’s wedding to look forward to even as newlyweds Mary and Matthew continue to battle over money… Stay tuned.